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Shining lasers at pilots affects their sight thereby jeopardising their ability to control their aircraft.

Ollie Dismore, director of operations for NPAS said laser attacks on aircraft worldwide is a source of major concern.

He said: “The impact on a pilot is at the very least distracting, but can be serious enough to cause temporary flash blindness and in some cases lasting eye damage.

“The frequency of these attacks in the UK alone is at a worrying level with around 1,380 laser strikes on aircraft last year officially reported to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

“What may seem harmless fun to the culprit could potentially have devastating consequences for the crew and passengers in the aircraft, innocent members of the public on the ground as well as potentially causing harm to those police aircraft are there to protect because we cannot go about our business.”